Chapter 22: A Hero's Burden
A New Kind of Alliance
Ethan and Tony had reached an understanding.
They weren't exactly friends—not yet—but there was mutual respect.
Tony saw power and restraint in Ethan. A man who could do anything but chose to protect rather than rule.
Ethan saw brilliance and courage in Tony. A man with no superpowers who still risked his life every day for the greater good.
It was a partnership that could change the world.
And it wouldn't take long before that partnership was tested.
The City Turns on Spider-Man
Peter Parker was still learning.
His reflexes were sharper, his agility unmatched, and his strength was growing.
But no matter how many criminals he stopped, there was one thing he didn't expect.
The city didn't trust him.
Unlike Superman or Iron Man, Spider-Man wasn't a public figure.
He was a masked vigilante.
And people didn't know if they should fear him or thank him.
It didn't help that a certain news outlet had made him public enemy number one.
The Daily Bugle's Attack
J. Jonah Jameson's voice boomed across the city.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS MENACE—THIS SO-CALLED 'SPIDER-MAN'—IS A THREAT TO OUR VERY WAY OF LIFE!"
Across New York, televisions, radios, and newspapers were filled with anti-Spider-Man rhetoric.
"He wears a mask! Why? Because he has something to hide!"
"He operates outside the law, takes justice into his own hands! What happens when he turns on us?"
"MARK MY WORDS—SPIDER-MAN IS A CRIMINAL!"
Peter sat in his room, staring at the screen.
His heart sank.
He was trying to do the right thing.
But the city saw him as the bad guy.
For the first time, doubt crept into his mind.
Am I doing the right thing?
Ethan's Advice
Later that night, Ethan found Peter sitting on a rooftop, staring at the city.
Ethan landed softly beside him. "Rough day?"
Peter sighed. "You heard Jameson, right?"
Ethan smirked. "Hard not to."
Peter clenched his fists. "I'm just trying to help. But the more I do, the more people turn against me."
Ethan nodded. "People fear what they don't understand."
Peter scoffed. "Easy for you to say. You're Superman. Everyone loves you."
Ethan was silent for a moment.
Then he said, "Not always."
Peter blinked. "What?"
Ethan sat down beside him. "I grew up in a small town. I had to hide who I was for years. And even now, with everything I do, there are still people who don't trust me."
Peter frowned. "So what do you do?"
Ethan smiled. "I remember why I do this in the first place."
Peter looked down at his hands.
"…Because it's right."
Ethan nodded. "Because it's right."
Peter exhaled, tension leaving his body. Then he looked up at Ethan with a small smirk. "You know, for a guy who can punch through buildings, you're weirdly good at pep talks."
Ethan chuckled. "Comes with the job."
Meanwhile: SHIELD Moves in the Shadows
Inside a high-security SHIELD facility, Nick Fury watched the footage of Superman and Spider-Man.
Hill stood beside him. "They've been making moves."
Fury nodded. "Yeah. And the world is watching."
Hill hesitated. "…Do you trust him?"
Fury didn't answer immediately.
Superman was powerful.
If he ever turned on humanity, nothing could stop him.
But so far?
He had been exactly what he claimed to be—a protector.
"…For now," Fury muttered. "But keep watching."
Because if anything ever changed?
They needed to be ready.